MELBOURNE will open its 2012 home-and-away season with a Saturday afternoon home clash at the MCG against Brisbane Lions.
It will coincide with boom recruit Mitch Clark’s first match for the Demons against his former team. The Demons will play the Lions twice - in rounds one and 14.
Melbourne will also meet the AFL’s newest team - Greater Western Sydney - twice, playing it in rounds 13 and 21.
The Demons have already built up a rivalry on this front, with 2009 No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick Tom Scully and former skipper James McDonald set to play with the Giants next year.
The red and blue will play 13 matches at the MCG, including nine home matches. Ten of Melbourne’s first 14 matches are at the ‘G.
Overall, Melbourne will play 16 matches in Victoria, and six outside the state.
The Dees will play 13 day, four twilight and four night matches.
Melbourne will play matches on Friday (one night), Saturday (seven afternoon, two twilight and three night), Sunday (one early, four afternoon and two twilight) and Monday (one afternoon).
In round 23, Melbourne will play Fremantle at Patersons Stadium, but the date and time has yet to be determined and will again be part of a ‘floating round’.
The Demons will also play a home match in Darwin against Port Adelaide in at TIO Stadium (round 16) and a local home game against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium (round 15).
Melbourne will also play West Coast Eagles (Patersons Stadium), Sydney Swans (SCG), Brisbane Lions (Gabba), GWS Giants (Manuka Oval) and Fremantle (Patersons Stadium) interstate.
The Dees play Brisbane Lions (rounds one and 14), Fremantle (rounds 16 and 23), GWS Giants (rounds 13 and 21), Richmond (rounds three and 15) and St Kilda (rounds five and 20) twice.
The longest Melbourne has to wait to play a team next year is the Adelaide Crows in round 22.
Melbourne has the bye in round 12.
Channel Seven will televise 11 Melbourne matches, and Fox will cover 10. Round 23 is yet to be determined.
To view the full fixture click here
